Navy Uniform

It has come to my attention that as of December 31, 2010 the U. S. Navy will phase out the old Navy uniform for E1 through E6 ranks and replace it with a move conventional military type uniform. No more dress Blues and Whites. The dungaree pants and blue chambrey shirt will be be replaced with cammo BDU's is shades of deck grey, bulkhead grey and black.

I remember the days of getting the "Tailor Made" dress blues, the neckerchief tied, "high and tight" ,the special roll on the dixie cup white hat and of course the silk "Liberty Cuffs" sewed in the back of your cuffs.

The old Pea Coat was extremely warm and the dungaree working uniform was the most comfortable clothin I have ever worn.

The Dress Blues were one of the most recognizable uniforms of any military service.

Evidently tradition does not mean anything anymore.

This is an end of an era.

Any of you old sea dogs want to comment.

I work with a gentleman who is a retired E9. He just read this and mumbled as he walked away.

Well, as an old Army fella' that recently retired and still works as a civ with the militar, I have seen a lot of changes in uniforms..One of the funniest was when the Navy switched to "blue" camos....I took one look at the guy and asked How do they find you if you fall in the water?...So switching to grey at least makes bette sense then what htey have right now. No offense to the Navy.
Saying all that the Army is switching uniforms again also, but being an old sniper I kinda like the patten they are using... Makes sense finally.

I saw a recruiter a month ago in the new Black and Tan uniform that replaced the Johnny Cash and the Ice Cream Man uniforms. It looked OK. I had not heard anything about the Cracker Jacks going away. The dress blues are dripping with tradition. It seems tradition means very little anymore - sad day

I think many of the uniform changes in the military lately are quite unnecessary. Each branch now has it's own camouflage pattern. Not only does that complicate logistics, it also makes friend or foe recognition a bit more difficult. I liked the days when all US forces had the same basic camouflage pattern (woodland=BDU/desert=DCU) but each branch had their own twist on the insignia, and or headgear to remain distinct from the other branches. Hell the Army now has a "universal" pattern that doesn't blend in with anything except a bolt of fabric in the "universal" pattern. And like the OP stated tradition seems to be damned with a lot of these uniform changes. Anyway rant off. :rant:

Das Boot are you a Sub guy? Would upstate be NY around Balston Spa?

I dont think they know wtf they are doing anymore, wether it is army, navy, af, or corps.

I hear the Army is going with region specific colors. It will still be the digitized pattern but Afghan, Iraq or where ever will have it's own color scheme. A lot of money goes into uniform changes and upgrades and I feel pretty confident that the soldier isn't asked what he feels.

Every ACoS has to leave his legacy.

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Originally Posted by smarullo

Das Boot are you a Sub guy? Would upstate be NY around Balston Spa?

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No, I was actually an Army guy. My screen name is something of a nick name I had. I'm in NY state but several hours from Balston Spa. I do seem to enjoy submarine movies though.

I was a submariner, so I didn't have to worry about the uniform much. Underway, the uniform of the day was t-shirt and shorts.

Can u use a straight razor n brush and maybe a scuttle on a sub ship??

pcdad

I was in the Navy in the early 70s. As I recall at some point they had ditched the blues and had a uniform similar to the other services at some point however it was very unpopular and they dropped it and went back to the traditional. Hopefully they will realize their mistake again.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I was in the Navy in the early 70s. As I recall at some point they had ditched the blues and had a uniform similar to the other services at some point however it was very unpopular and they dropped it and went back to the traditional. Hopefully they will realize their mistake again.

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I was going to say the exact same thing. Loved my Cracker Jacks and Dixie Cup. Why fix what ain't broken? :confused:

PCDAD -- on my sub, 120 or so enlisted men shared five sinks in the Ops Compartment heads and two sinks in the Missile Compartment head. There was no restriction on what you used to remove the hair from your face (or head). But if you took more than five or ten minutes at the sink, there would be a line of ****ed off shipmates behind you ready to slap you silly because they want to get up to the mess deck and eat before going on watch.
Namaste,
Morty -_-

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Originally Posted by Morty

I was going to say the exact same thing. Loved my Cracker Jacks and Dixie Cup. Why fix what ain't broken? :confused:

PCDAD -- on my sub, 120 or so enlisted men shared five sinks in the Ops Compartment heads and two sinks in the Missile Compartment head. There was no restriction on what you used to remove the hair from your face (or head). But if you took more than five or ten minutes at the sink, there would be a line of ****ed off shipmates behind you ready to slap you silly because they want to get up to the mess deck and eat before going on watch.
Namaste,
Morty -_-

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I was on a Skipjack class fast attack. SSN588 USS Scamp.Oh, for the luxuries of a boomer.:p

Gary

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Originally Posted by pcdad

Can u use a straight razor n brush and maybe a scuttle on a sub ship??

pcdad

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Submarines are called boats. The targets that float on top are called ships.

I love some of the banter in here, you guys are cracking me up, I know that this is primarily a squid, oops excuse me, a navy issue, but has anyone one seen those air force blue tiger striped cammies? My God, how ridiculous!

That's OK the Italian Army has Armani designed Black outfits.

In the 60's I did a lot of Department of Defense joint command operations and as a result was stationed at various Army and Air Force bases. The base laundries didn't have a clue about cleaning Navy uniforms or about our reverse creases and pleats. The first time my uniforms came back with Army style creases I realized that my uniforms would have to be self-laundered and pressed with a newly purchased iron and giant cans of spray starch. Back then we used to say that the Navy uniform was 200 years of tradition untouched by progress. I guess all of that has changed now.

Regards - Walt

There were several items of Navy clothing that I particularly liked.

One was the navy wool jersey. It was very warm. In extreme cold weather you could layer your clothing with a T shirt, wool jersey, wool jumper and pea coat. Your ears would freeze but the torso was warm.

Another item was the blue working jacket. This was a light waist length jacket with a light pile lining. It was very comfortable.

The blue chambrey shirts were wonderful. The more they were washed the softer they would get. The more faded your shirt was the "Saltier" you were considered and Salty was what you were trying for.

I usually wore the standard uniform but did have the so called "Liberty Cuffs" sewn in my jumper. The dress blue jumper had cuffs with white piping and were buttoned up. You could go to the uniform shops and have special cuffs sewn in with a hidden stitch which did not go all the was thru the fabric. When the cuffs were buttoned, they looked regulation, but you could unbutton them, turn them back and show off your liberty cuffs. Mine were chinese dragons embroidred in silk. There were many variations. USA flags, rebel flags, golden tigers on a black background., etc.

Alas - the end of an era is upon us.

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Originally Posted by HarleyFXST

I was on a Skipjack class fast attack. SSN588 USS Scamp.Oh, for the luxuries of a boomer.:p

Gary

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Hi Gary,
USS Casimir Pulaski, SSB(N)633 B. "Luxuries" of a boomer? They're very over rated. On my first patrol, due to a screwup by the OOD, we were detected by a Soviet destroyer. It took us four days at ahead flank at a very deep depth to lose him. His active sonar drilled right through the hull into your head. Ninety-six hours of getting pinged does a number on you.

And given that it was a Soviet submarine that sunk the Scorpion with a torpedo, we were probably on the fifth of our allotted nine lives.
Namaste,
Morty -_-

Hi Gary, I was on the Vallejo SSBN 658. Good to see some sub sailors out there. You don't run across them very often.


Steve

Personally I think the Navy dress blues should stay the same, but do think that all branches of the US forces should have a "working" uniform that is the same for simple recognition.

Dang bubbleheads....

Alright, try and keep an open mind about these uniforms. I am on active duty and will try and explain. The NWU (Digi Blue) working uniform was designed to be comfortable and hide dirt, grease and oil better than the old dungaree uniforms. This ensures an extended service life of the uniform. Also, its wash and wear, no ironing etc. The colors dont matter if you fall in the water, we replaced an all blue coverall and the old utilities were dark blue pants with a light blue top. If you fell in the water with either of those uniforms you would blend in anyhow. Thats what the vests and survival lights are for.

The dress blue and dress white uniform will be staying. The Summer White and Winter Blue uniforms were replaced with the Navy Service Uniform (Black and Tan) for a year round service uniform.

As far as why dont the services wear the same camo pattern etc. Its very simple, each service has a patent on their digi design and are reluctant to allow another service to copy it. The R&D time and money that goes into them is a huge factor therefore they balk when a color or pattern is close. Feel free to PM me with any questions about Navy Uniforms.....I wear them ALOT hehe

Billy

Remember the hullabaloo around all the regular army units getting the Ranger black beret. I still think that was a slap in the face to the Rangers. A lot of good thinking on here about standardizing uniforms that I agree with, especially with respect to being "in the field". But as to the CLASSIC enlisted navy dress blues ... man, I don't like that going away ... my dad was enlisted from 1939 - 1958, and I still have his stuff ... and aside from the material (wool back then), it still looks the same ... I think that does help the vets feel connected, and the current enlistees have a history of pride around the fact that they dress like the heros of their youth. Anyway ... old soldiers/sailors never die, they just gripe, I guess.

I don't know where, but I once heard a decription of the Cracker Jack uniform and how it came to be. The flap on the back of the shirt was originally intended to keep tar from the sailor's braid off the shirt. The bell bottom legs made it easier to tie them together and use as a floatation divice. The had (proabably designed for submariners) could be held tightly and air blown in to speed one's flight to the surface. If anyone knows if any of this is true or false, please respond.

As far as keeping with tradition goes, anyone in the vicinity of Boston might enjoy a visit to the oldest commissioned warship in the Navy, the U.S.S. Constitution -- yes, Old Ironsides herself. Notice the uniforms that crew wears!

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Originally Posted by leadduck

I don't know where, but I once heard a decription of the Cracker Jack uniform and how it came to be. The flap on the back of the shirt was originally intended to keep tar from the sailor's braid off the shirt. The bell bottom legs made it easier to tie them together and use as a floatation divice. The had (proabably designed for submariners) could be held tightly and air blown in to speed one's flight to the surface. If anyone knows if any of this is true or false, please respond.

As far as keeping with tradition goes, anyone in the vicinity of Boston might enjoy a visit to the oldest commissioned warship in the Navy, the U.S.S. Constitution -- yes, Old Ironsides herself. Notice the uniforms that crew wears!

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The part about the neckerchief keeping the tar off the uniform is correct. The pants were also closed with 13 buttons, for the 13 original colonies. I still have my Crackerjacks.

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Originally Posted by leadduck

The bell bottom legs made it easier to tie them together and use as a floatation divice. The had (proabably designed for submariners) could be held tightly and air blown in to speed one's flight to the surface.

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Sailors never wore Crackerjacks out at sea (blues or whites) except for formal ceremonial occasions like burial at sea. The practical reason for the bell bottom dungaree pants was supposedly to make it easier for you to remove your boots once you're in the water should you fall overboard or have to abandon ship (surface ship). Bell bottoms on Crackerjacks was for tradition only, like the 13 buttons. Also, the gabardine pants that were replacing bell bottom dungarees when I was in the Navy were not bell bottom.

If a submarine is disabled in water SHALLOW enough (and warm enough) for a buoyant escape, you do NOT want to ascend any faster than your emergency breathing apparatus will carry you (Steinke hoods when I was serving). There would be no way for four men in the crowded confines of an escape trunk to inflate tied off dungarees anyway. There's barely enough room for each man to squeeze through the escape hatch one at a time.

There are many other old wives tales about submarines. One of the favorites was that the Navy issues felt soled boondockers to submarine sailors so that the sound their footsteps made would not be detected by enemy sonar. There are no felt soled Navy shoes. Submarine decks are isolated from the hull with flexible mounts (as are noisy machines) so you can beat on them with a sledgehammer and the sound will not be carried through the hull out into the water. (If you did that, however, the Captain would probably rip your head off!) ;-)

I'll never give up my Crackerjacks.
Namaste,
Morty -_-

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Originally Posted by Morty

If a submarine is disabled in water SHALLOW enough (and warm enough) for a buoyant escape, you do NOT want to ascend any faster than your emergency breathing apparatus will carry you (Steinke hoods when I was serving).

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"HO HO HO HO HO"
"I feel fine, sir!"

[QUOTE=Morty;641236] There would be no way for four men in the crowded confines of an escape trunk to inflate tied off dungarees anyway. There's barely enough room for each man to squeeze through the escape hatch one at a time. QUOTE]

Thanks for the information. I don't think the intent (from what I heard) would be to inflate the legs before leaving the sub, but to remove the pants on the surface and inflate them there. This is a standard technique taught in Red Cross and YMCA lifesaving courses. It would be used if one found himself in the water without a PFD.

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Originally Posted by leadduck

Thanks for the information. I don't think the intent (from what I heard) would be to inflate the legs before leaving the sub, but to remove the pants on the surface and inflate them there. This is a standard technique taught in Red Cross and YMCA lifesaving courses. It would be used if one found himself in the water without a PFD.

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Actually when I went through bootcamp in the late 70s, they had us use our dungarees as flotation aids during swim training. As far as actually escaping a sub, once you are in fleet you realize none of the safety devices are present or are disabled. I was on a fast attack sub,with no room to store Steinke hoods, and our emergency buoy's hatch was welded shut because it would be bad to have it pop open in Russian waters.

We were told (1950s) the bell bottoms were to ease rolling up the trousers to keep the bottoms dry while deck swabing[scrubbing]
We received the first new white "shirts" in the late 50s.
~Geezer

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Originally Posted by Morty

snip The practical reason for the bell bottom dungaree pants was supposedly to make it easier for you to remove your boots once you're in the water should you fall overboard or have to abandon ship (surface ship).
I'll never give up my Crackerjacks.
Namaste,
Morty -_-

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The idea of making it easier to roll up the legs or remove boots does sound more likely, as I would think the flaired legs would actually make it harder not easier, to tie them together.

Here is an interesting website by the Navy Department Library which goes into detail concerning the various changes in the Navy uniform between 1776 and 1981. It should clear up a lot of the urban legend type of misinformation on this subject.

Regards - Walt

Wow! What a fantastic resource. As a history buff, I thank you for this wonderful find.

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Originally Posted by leadduck

I don't think the intent (from what I heard) would be to inflate the legs before leaving the sub, but to remove the pants on the surface and inflate them there. This is a standard technique taught in Red Cross and YMCA lifesaving courses. It would be used if one found himself in the water without a PFD.

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The issue was why Navy uniforms had bell bottom trousers. Bell bottoms do not make it any easier -- or harder -- to tie off the cuffs to make a temporary PFD so PFD use isn't related to bell bottoms. Namaste, Morty -_-

For whatever reason, "Dickies" still made the patch pocket dungarees till recently if they have not continued. They were a special order item.I were in the Navy five years.
~Richard

One of my favorite articles of clothing that we wore when I was in 65 to 68, was the blue working jacket. It was a light windbreaker jacket that was very warm for its weight and very comfortable.

The Dickie Company makes dungarees and chambrey shirts that are close to the items we wore as a working uniform. They are available at stores like Wal Mart and K Mart.

We were issued a Olive Drab Jacket, Model N-1 for use on shipboard. It was pile lined and very worm. It was called a Deck Jacket. You had to turn them in upon leaving your ship or duty station. It was considered part of what the Navy called Foul Weather Gear.

The most hated article of clothing issued was the raincoat. It was worthless. You could go to the PX and buy a can of scotchguard and it helped but as issued it was worthless in a downpour.

Whatever changes the Navy makes, I am glad that when I was there a Sailor looked like a sailor and we had .45s instead of 9MMs. (That is a whole other can of worms.

Anchors Aweigh

I still have my Cracker jacks as well (it's been over 25 years since I wore 'em, and probably 15 years since I could have fit into them again ;) )

On my ship, the Dixie cup was the proper cover even when in dungarees. I loved my dungs. When the pants had been laundered a couple of times, they were about the most comfortable things you could wear. And that shade of blue they had before they started to fade to white still makes me nostalgic for my youth.

I hear the white Cracker Jacks will be updated with navy piping on the collar-flap and cuffs. I actually think that's long overdue. I wish they'd done that while I was in.

The Ice Cream man uniform was always the stupidest. I never wore it if I didn't have to.

joe, you sound like you were in when i was, and i have to agree, with you on the dungarees. hated the chuckas myself, bought jump boots to wear. the crackerjack uniform is what the navy should always wear, end of story. the way i saw it, the other branches uniforms were all closely similar, each branch had their own styling, and differences, but the coat and trousers were the same style, the crackerjack was one of a kind. and the only uniform you could modify for ease of opening during liberty

Active duty Army here, and man do I agree with the consensus....as stated earlier, I understand the reasons for individual uniforms for each branch, however, I think it has gotten out of hand. I miss my BDUs and as an NCO, I'm seeing some sideline drawbacks to the changes. Soldiers are losing traditions and discipline building tools such as uniform care (read: boot shining, pressing, etc.). High five to the Navy guys, your P-coat is THE best garmet I have ever owned! Never a cold night cruising through Fort Wainwright, AK.